that was the name on the label it came with, of course you're right! s. purpurea is also said to resemble neowerdermannia vorwerkii which this plant doesn't really do neither, guess I'll have to put it up for ID....

today was a milestone, my first seed to flower experience! gymnocalicium erinaceum

gymnocalicium erinaceum 07-09 230512.JPG (18.66 KiB) Viewed 842 times

quite a coincidence, this plant came from you hob! rebutia einsteinii MN100

Bryan, yes it is and thank you for the compliment! actually the first ever cactus I have ever grown from seed is now also the first to flower!when I looked before the weekend it had two more buds opening, I hope they will still be open this afternoonis it me or is the flower in your avatar the same erinaceum?

Minime, thanks!

With apologies to the late Professor C. D. Darlington the following misquotation springs tomind ‘cactus taxonomy is the pursuit of the impossible by the incompetent’ - Fearn & Pearcy, Rebutia (1981)